title: Dynein-dynactin complex is essential for dendritic restriction of TM1-containing Drosophila Dscam.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many membrane proteins, including Drosophila Dscam, are enriched in dendrites or axons within neurons. However, little is known about how the differential distribution is established and maintained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here we investigated the mechanisms underlying the dendritic targeting of Dscam[TM1]. Through forward genetic mosaic screens and by silencing specific genes via targeted RNAi, we found that several genes, encoding various components of the dynein-dynactin complex, are required for restricting Dscam[TM1] to the mushroom body dendrites. In contrast, compromising dynein/dynactin function did not affect dendritic targeting of two other dendritic markers, Nod and Rdl. Tracing newly synthesized Dscam[TM1] further revealed that compromising dynein/dynactin function did not affect the initial dendritic targeting of Dscam[TM1], but disrupted the maintenance of its restriction to dendrites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest multiple mechanisms of dendritic protein targeting. Notably, dynein-dynactin plays a role in excluding dendritic Dscam, but not Rdl, from axons by retrograde transport.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Jacob Shun-Jen
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jia-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Tzumin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072159:Dynactin Complex; D004398:Dyneins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009030:Mosaicism; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000502:physiology; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011485:Protein Binding; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C491736:Dscam1 protein, Drosophila; D000072159:Dynactin Complex; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D004398:Dyneins